Monthly Archives: November 2009

How sad to hear that Borders, the US bookstore, is in receivership in the UK. I really liked Borders’ shops. I can remember the first one I ever went in was on Oxford Street in London. It was so huge! What impressed me was its range of books. It knocked spots off its rivals because […]

At a time when library services are being cut throughout the UK and professional school librarians replaced with ‘helpers’ this poem written by Gwen Grant is a timely reminder of how important – no – vital – libraries are to people and communities. Reproduced by kind permission of Gwen Grant. My Library Home When they […]

Thank you so much to Leicestershire County Council Library Services for choosing ‘Do Goalkepeers Wear Tiaras?’ as one of their November Books of the Month. Recommended for 8 + the review reads: ‘A great start to a new football series and one for the girls. Pielichaty writes superbly for this age group, identifying well with […]

Six members of the SAS (Scattered Authors’ Society) invaded the Borders bookshop in Leicester today. The children’s section will never be the same again! Children, teachers and parents flocked round to meet Leila Rasheed, Pippa Goodhart, David Calcutt, Susan Price, Linda Chapman and er… me. The idea was to show what a bunch of gifted, […]

I was met at Middlesbrough Station by my librarian escort for the day, Michelle Mollan. Michelle was very sensibly carrying a copy of my book and a picture of me (the one where my face Iooks like I fell asleep on a sunbed) to wave in case of emergency. Luckily she recognised me despite having […]

I have to admit, it didn’t start off well. My journey to Hartlepool was grim, with delayed trains and missed connections and rain, rain, rain all the way. I made it in the end though and the view over the marina from my hotel room window cheered me up no end. The next morning, after […]

Old Basford Primary and Nursery School isn’t in the plushest part of Nottingham but the children were as delightful as any I’d met. A sea of blue and white in assembly made me feel instantly at home. It was like being at a Town match but without the pies. I then met the two year […]

I’ve almost finished my school visits for the year. At the beginning of the week I’ll be in Old Basford, Nottingham working with KS2 pupils on ‘You are the Author.’ ‘You are the Author’ is based on a short story I wrote for 7-8 year olds called Go, Jordan, Go where the children have to […]

I’ve just watched Town on the tell- eeee … and we won six-nil. That’s 6-0. It could have been 10, we played so well. Loads of accurate passing right across the width of the pitch resulting in so many attempts on target I lost count – 19? 20? At least two of the goals came […]

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Just back from a fantastic day with the staff and Year Six pupils at Whitechapel Middle School in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire. The headmaster, Mr Drapan, wanted a full-on day of writing based on a football theme and guess what… he got one! We kicked off in assembly with pupils reading extracts from my Girls FC […]